‘Ferocious little demon' of a dog floating in the Arthur Kill rescued by NJ Troopers

New York Post

10-07-2025

The New Jersey Devil appears to have a sidekick.
A 'ferocious little demon' of a dog was rescued by Garden State troopers after they found the pugnacious pooch floating on a piece of junk in the Arthur Kill on Friday morning.
Trooper Michael Buchell and his partner Shane McClafferty were responding to a call of a distressed dog when they noticed some unusual movement in the water in Elizabeth, NJ State Police said on Facebook.
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3 The 'ferocious little demon' wanted no part of the New Jersey State Troopers who were trying to save him.
NJ State Police
That's when they found a very cute and – and very angry – long haired rat terrier mix struggling against the current and floating on what appears to be a discarded piece of furniture, according to the video of the rescue.
The troopers said the feisty pup, whom they nicknamed Oscar after the famous Sesame Street grouch, is believed to be about 1 years old.
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'Look at that little guy,' Buchell says in the video in a soft voice. 'What did you do buddy? What did you get yourself involved in?'
Buchell stretches out for Oscar while he's still bobbing on the current.
'Come here buddy – don't bite me,' he adds in the same beseeching voice. 'Good boy.'
3 A New Jersey State Trooper needed to climb over rocks and tree limbs to get the lost dog.
NJ State Police
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But Oscar wants no part of the trooper and in demonic fashion lunges, snaps and barks in one ferocious motion.
The dog then leaps off the piece of furniture and briefly disappears underneath the water.
An incredulous observer standing on a nearby pier says: 'He's trying to save you!'
A group then begins to clap, and Buchell encourages them to keep it up so it helps redirect Oscar towards him and his partner.
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'Clap on this side of him, because he doesn't want to go by us,' he says.
McClafferty ferries Buchell to a spot where he can crawl underneath the pier where Oscar had taken refuge.
'Come here buddy, I'm here to help you,' Buchell says. 'Good boy.'
The demon responds by baring his teeth.
'Good boy, good boy, come here,' Buchell repeats, starting to get annoyed as he crawls over big jagged rocks and weathered tree limbs to get to Oscar.
The dog lets out to terrifying tiny barks as he approaches.
'It's ok, it's ok, you ferocious little demon,' Buchell says. 'I'm trying to help.'
Buchell takes off his neon emergency vest and slowly approaches Oscar and pounces on the pooch, wrapping him up
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'Easy, easy, easy,' he says while Oscar thrashes in his hands.
The troopers deployed a life ring and rescue blanket to bring Oscar aboard a vessel safely, police said.
Oscar exhibited signs of fatigue and early-stage hypothermia, so the troopers dried him off and warmed him up and took him to Carteret Station where he was determined to be in good shape, according to a statement.
3 New Jersey State Trooper Michale Buchell posing with the lost demon that he lovingly nicknamed Oscar the Grouch after his feisty disposition.
NJ State Police
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Buchnell is taking care of Oscar until his owners can be tracked down or he finds a new home.